Schlemm's canal
Encyclopedia
Schlemm's canal, also known as canal of Schlemm or the scleral venous sinus, is a circular channel in the eye
that collects aqueous humor from the anterior chamber
and delivers it into the bloodstream via the anterior ciliary veins.
The canal is essentially an endothelium-lined tube, resembling that of a lymphatic vessel. On the inside of the canal, nearest to the aqueous humor, it is covered by the trabecular meshwork
, this region makes the greatest contribution to outflow resistance of the aqueous humor.
Named after Friedrich Schlemm
(1795–1858), a German anatomist.
is the result.
Human eye
The human eye is an organ which reacts to light for several purposes. As a conscious sense organ, the eye allows vision. Rod and cone cells in the retina allow conscious light perception and vision including color differentiation and the perception of depth...
that collects aqueous humor from the anterior chamber
Anterior chamber
The anterior chamber is the fluid-filled space inside the eye between the iris and the cornea's innermost surface, the endothelium. Aqueous humor is the fluid that fills the anterior chamber. Hyphema and glaucoma are two main pathologies in this area. In hyphema, blood fills the anterior chamber...
and delivers it into the bloodstream via the anterior ciliary veins.
The canal is essentially an endothelium-lined tube, resembling that of a lymphatic vessel. On the inside of the canal, nearest to the aqueous humor, it is covered by the trabecular meshwork
Trabecular meshwork
The trabecular meshwork is an area of tissue in the eye located around the base of the cornea, near the ciliary body, and is responsible for draining the aqueous humor from the eye via the anterior chamber .The tissue is spongy and lined by trabeculocytes; it allows fluid to drain into a set of...
, this region makes the greatest contribution to outflow resistance of the aqueous humor.
Named after Friedrich Schlemm
Friedrich Schlemm
Friedrich Schlemm was a German anatomist who was professor at the University of Berlin.He was born in Salzgitter. As his family could not afford higher education, he was apprenticed to a barber-surgeon in Braunschweig. This gave him the opportunity to study anatomy and surgery at the local...
(1795–1858), a German anatomist.
Role in glaucoma
The canal transfers approximately 2-3 microliters of aqueous humor per minute. If debris builds up, due to infection or injury in the aqueous humor, the canal is blocked and glaucomaGlaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the optic nerve suffers damage, permanently damaging vision in the affected eye and progressing to complete blindness if untreated. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye...
is the result.
